William Fox-Pitt (GBR) riding the New Zealand thoroughbred Clifton Signature leads the CIC*** dressage after the first day of competition at the Barbury International Horse Trials.
William, who recently took over the ride on Clifton Signature from Jock Paget, performed a lovely dressage to score 40.7 penalties.
“It’s early days as this is my first dressage on him at this level,” says William. “He is a lovely horse and I think there is more to come from him in this phase. I am very happy with that.”
Britain holds the first two places, with Oliver Townend and Note Worthy second on 42.9pen, but of course there is a Kiwi not far behind. Just one mark away on 43.9 is Andrew Nicholson, five-time consecutive winner of Barbury, riding Swallow Springs this year.
New Zealanders are doing really well in the two-star classes, with Tim Price leading one section on Xavier Faer and third in another on Cooley Showtime. Blyth Tait, riding Lizzie Green’s Havanna Van’t Castanaehof is second behind Tim.
The competition continues tomorrow. Andrew will be doing his 3*** dressage test on Byrnesgrove First Diamond, and Tim will be riding Ringwood Skyboy.
The Event Rider Masters class is the highlight of Barbury, with Andrew, Sir Mark Todd, Jesse Campbell and Tim Price all making the field of 40, and there are plenty of New Zealanders entered in the novice and open intermediate classes too. Also competing this year in the 100cm class is Andrew and Wiggy’s 12-year-old daughter Lily Nicholson, riding Primitives Pebbles. Another Kiwi featuring is Andrew Bennie, who is on the 3*** ground jury.
Dressage results for the three CIC** sections, after day one, are as follows:
Section C
• 1st – Christopher Burton (AUS) and Laytown Boy (37.4)
• 2nd – Emily King (GBR) and Cooley Currency (37.5)
• 3rd – Tim Price (NZL) Cooley Showtime (39.8)
Section D
• 1st – Tim Price (NZL) and Xavier Faer (42.3)
• Equal 2nd – Blyth Tait (NZL) and Havanna Van’t Castanaeof (42.7)
• Equal 2nd – Emily King (GBR) and Walitze F Vejgard (42.7)
• 4th – Emma McNab (AUS) Brookfield Quality (43.9)
Section E
• 1st – Ludwig Svennerstal (SWE) and Box Leo (39.5)
• 2nd – Emma McNab (AUS) and Brookfield Inocent (40.8)
• 3rd – Shea Mackenna (USA) Landisio (41.6)
